Rampaging Rita

Our wonderfully inconsiderate neighbor across the street decided to have her beautiful tree cut down because it was "messy". It was actually a messy reminder of her deceased husband who had rebuffed her desire years ago to remove all vegetative life surrounding their townhouses. She cut down the companion tree a couple years ago much to the dismay of the tenants. And now, understandably with no advance notice to her tenants, she has completed the sterilization of her landscape and diminished property values in the neighborhood. She did use a very competent tree removal service. One talented guy, with only a long rope and chainsaw and helper on the ground, completely removed the 60-foot tree in five hours. My guess it cost $1,000 to the tree remover and $10,000 in diminishment of her property value.

Our poor 80-year-old neighbor Nancy, one of her tenants, was devastated. She is a spiritual, organic and nature loving soul. We consoled each other over a bottle of her cheap wine that evening. I was not so depressed at the loss of the tree as the continued residency of Rita. Nancy, however, has learned to forgive and live with all in her state in life. She said at least she had the tree for 20 wonderful years. She does not complain to Rita about the leaks in the basement, the grungy paint and carpet, leaky faucets, inoperable door bell, etc. for fear Rita might have something repaired and raise the rent.

Nancy gave us a dozen local organic farm eggs to try. After reading Omnivore's Dilemma I was really looking forward to breakfast. As Dix was frying them up I asked her what that smell was. She said it's the same smell they turned their noses up to when they were kids eating eggs from their grandma's farm. It did not translate to the taste when eating them, but there was this oily aftertaste that I tried to neutralize with grapefruit juice, and then blueberries, and then chocolate. I guess we're a product of Big Farm.